The first Ukrainian defense plant has officially begun operating in the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, said on Wednesday.
The new production complex is owned by Ukrspecsystems, a leading developer of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Writing on Facebook, Zaluzhny said that the move creates a “second line of resilience” for the company.
The expansion aims to ensure continuous production as Ukraine’s domestic infrastructure faces relentless missile attacks.
Zaluzhny said that, while the company’s engineering expertise will remain in Ukraine to incorporate direct frontline expertise into the design process, its integration into the British defense space secures the manufacturing cycle.
“This is not a shift of the center of gravity away from Ukraine. It is an expansion of our shared capabilities,” Zaluzhny said. “We are creating a new quality of partnership where allies do not just support each other but form a common industrial security base.”
The plan for the new factory was first reported in September 2025. Ukrspecsystems, which produces eight different military and civilian drone models, said it was committed to a £200 million ($250 million) investment in the UK.
The project includes an 11,000-square-meter (118,400 square feet) factory near Mildenhall, Suffolk and a dedicated testing center in nearby Elmsett.
According to the company’s UK managing director, Rory Chamberlain, the construction of these facilities was slated to take up to three years, signaling a long-term commitment to the British defense sector.
As companies mature, Ukrainian defense tech manufacturers are seeking international partnerships to gain access to foreign investors, enabling them to sustain their work and export excessive production.